Steam-regenerative accumulator.



` PATBNTBD DEG. z5, 1906. A. o. E. BATEAU. f STEAM REGENBRATIVBAGGUMULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED IAB.. 3. 1905. v

sel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFGE.

AUGUSTE cAMiLLE EDMoND BATEAU, or PARIS, FRANCE. STEANlv-F-IEGENERATIVEACCUNIULTCR.

,Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Applicatin `filed March 3, 1905. Seria-1 No.4 248,188.

I To. all-whom'zlt may con/cern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTE CAMILLE ED'- -MoND RATEAU, a citizen oftheUnited States,

residing at Paris, France, have invented a certain newl and usefulImprovement in Stearn- Regenerative Accumulators, of which the followingis a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. f

M y invention relates to steam-regenerative accumulatore of such a type,for example, as that illustrated in my reissued Letters Patentl No.12,295, dated December 27,1904,

though the inventionneed not berestricted discharge duct or opening forsubstantiallyl kpreventing the liquid from exceeding a given level bypermitting the excess of liquid to .flow awayfrom the vessel, and asteam-escape valve preventing thepressure within the ves- 25 sel fromAexceedingl a predetermined limit, said vessel having-an outlet above vthe level of the liquid for conveyingv steam from the vesln apparatus4of this class as hitherto constructed there is danger of the pressurewithin the accumulator Aforcing the liquid (Water) back through thepipethat conveysthe steam to be regenerated, which may occasion greatdamage, lparticularly where the steam to beregencrated is suppliediromtheexliaust of an engine, as isusually the case. Obviously. backiiow .ofwater through this pipe that supplies the steam to be regenerated to thecylind'erof the engine would cause great inconvenience, if not materialharmful results, as will be apparent to those skilled. in. lthe art.Such results are 'likely to happen when the engine stops, for

then the pressure within the vesselv of the accum ulator is n otsulliciently counteracted by gine.

plemented by the pumping action of the env My invention resides inproviding means for preventing the backflow of the water when theexhaust-pressure is removed or soreduced as to otherwise cause a backowof the Water. This result has been accomplished by means of acheck-valve speciiically claimed in my application, Serial No. 248,189,iiled March 3, 1905, the invention, however, being broadly claimed in mypresent application, .or by means of valves regulated by Steam-pressure.

Where steam-pressurefcontrolled valves are employed, I preferablyprovide a shunt or bypass-between the pipe that conveys theexhaust-steam to the vessel of the accumulator, in which bylpass thereis included a valve that is so adjusted that when the pressure of theexhaust-steam is notl below a predetermined value said valve will beclosed but when the ressure due to the exhaust-y steam within tfie pipeis sufficiently reduced or is absent lor when there is the pum ingaction heretofore specified the pressure om the vessel of theaccumulator will be effective upon the valve to unseat the valve, andthereby permit steam to pass through the said by-passjnto theexhaust-steam-'supply pipe, whereupon 'sullicient pressure isestablished within the said pipe to revent the backhow of water. l donot wis i to be limited, however, to the source of supplemental pressure`from which pressure-is supplied to the pipe that conveys theexhaust-steam to `the accumulator, as in practice it may be desirable toeliminate the by-pass between the source of pressure distinct from thatafforded by the steam within the vessel of the accumulator, vwhichsupplemental source of pressure (that is, supplemental with respect tothe pressure afforded by the exhaust-steam) may evenbe the boiler thatsupplies the steam to operate the engine from which the exhaust ispassed to the accumulator. y

. I Willexplain my invention more fully by reference to theaccompanyingdrawings, in

which- Figure 1"'is a view insectional elevation diagrammaticallyindicating the preferred embodiment ofthe invention. Big. 2 -=is a of myinvention.

view in sectional elevation of a modification Fig. 3 is another view insectional elevation of another modification of my invention specificallyclaimed in my copending application.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe different figures.

The-vessel a of the accumulator is that in which the exhaust-steam isregenerated, this Vessel a being designed to contain liquid b, which isprevented from exceeding a predetermined level by means of the.discharge duct or opening @,that projects within a vessel d, whichcommunicates with the vessel a through pipes e and f, located above andbelow the level that is desired for the liquid b, respectively, Vafloat-valve g opening and closing the communication between the pipes cand the vessel d, according to the evel of the liquid in the vessels aand d. Piping h affords communication between the sup lyof steam that isto be regenerated,

suc as theexhaust-piping of an engine, the pi ing h directing steam intothe liquid, for w ich purpose said pipe may be provided with ahorizontal perforated extenslon i, extending substantially the length ofthe vessel a, as indicated in Figs. l and 3, or whichmay terminate atthe Wall of the vessel a; immediately adjacent to the piping h, Jforwith either .construction the steam is led into the Water from saidpiping h, the water serving .to operate upon the steam thus admittedhitherto in a manner now well understood by .those skilled in the artand explained in my aforesaid patent, which operation need not here bespecifically described. An outlet l7c is provided above that level ofthe liquid b to which said liquid desirably is limited, so that theregenerated steam may be conveyed from said vessel without carrying withit the water of the vessel, whereby such regenerated steam may beeffectively adapted to o crate steam-driven motors or engines. In viewof the fact that the steam within the vessel a may fluctuate lwidely inpressure and in order that the regenerated steam may be supplied to theload it is to operate at a pressure not exceeding a given limit a safetyor steam-escape valve l 1s employed, which.

valve is only unseated when the pressure 1n the vessel a exceeds thelimit for which the said valve is set to accomplish the result desired.1

In order that the ressure Within the vessel a may not force tiie li uidb back through the piping' h and in or er that the engine that may beconnected with said piping z may not pump said liquid through the pipeafter the operating-steam has been cut-oli from the engine and beforethe said engine is brought to a stop, provide the apparatus shown inFig. l or Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, that serves to prevent such backilow of saidliquid. I .n

Fig. 1 this supplemental apparatus resides 1n a by-pass m, that includesas a component part thereof a valve-chamber n, this by-pass or shuntbeing lconnected between the vessel a at a point above the liquid b andthe piping h. The valve o within the valve-chamber n is so weighted orbalanced that it will not open when the pressure within the piping h,due to the exhaust or low-pressure steam. flowing therein, is at orabove a predetermined value, such low-pressure steam exerting pressureupon the upper side of the valve 0, while the steam withmthe vessel aexerts pressure upon the lower side of said valve, said latter pressure,under conditions just mentioned, then not serving to effect theelevation of' the valve. When, however, for any reason'the pressure ofthe steam upon the upper side of the valve o is below the predeterminedvalue, the pressure of the steam within thevessel a will ciiect anelevation of the valve o, whereupon steam is admitted from the saidvessel to the piping it at a point above the level of' the liquid1)sosthat the liquid in the said vessel is prevented from rising withinthe piping 7i.. lfhepressure in the vessel a may fluctuate, in whichcase the lower limit placed for the steam-pressure Within the piping 71,may correspondingly fiuctuate. Obviously the level of the liquid b mayfluctuate within certain limits in the operation of the accumulator.

In Fig. 2 a valve p is interposed between a supplemental source ofsteam-pressure q and the piping'h. l speak of the source ofsteampressure as being supplemental," by which term I mean that it issupplemental with respect to the source of vlow-pressure steam thatsupplies the piping h. The valve p is so set that when the pressure inthe piping l1l is below a predetermined value said valve will open toadmit steam from the source q, the steam admitted from this source beingof sufficiently high pressure to restore the pressure within the pipingor provide su fiici'cnt pressure within said piping to prevent the steamwithin the vessel a from forcing the water b back through said pipingand to prevent any )umping action of the engine from drawing t is Water.

In Fig, 3 there is not provided any means for supplying steam to thepiping h in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, but said piping isprovided with a valve 1, desirably a Heat-valve, that is subject to thepressure from the steam within the piping h normally to maintain saidvalve from its seat, whereupon the said steam may be passed through thevalve-opening into the vessel a, but which' valve is subject to thepressure of the steam from the interior of the vessel a. when thepressure in the piping h has been suiiiciently reduced, so that the saidvalve is Ils to the connection of lthe by-pass .connected with thevessel c, as any connection that will make the valve in saidby-passsubject to regenerated steam-pressure comes Within the scolpe of myinvention.

is obviousthat many changes may be vmade in the apparatus ofinyinvention-without departing ronithe spirit thereof, and I do not,therefore, wish to be limited to the precise construction shown; but',

' Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new; and desire to secure by Letters K Patent, the following:

1. In a steamfregenerative accumulator in combination, a vesselcontaining liquid as a heat-carrier, piping' for directing steam intothe liquid, a duct or opening for substantially maintaining the liquidat a given level, a steam-escape valve, said vessel having an outletabove said level for conveying steam from said vessel, a by-.passbetween a portion of the accumulator containing regenerated steam andsaid piping, and a valve in said by-pass subject to regenerated-steampressureandpressure of steam'within said piping'to check backflow ofliquid through said 2. n a steam-regenerative accumulatorin combination,a vessel containing liquid as a heat-carrier, piping for directing steaminto the liquid, a duct or opening forsubstantially maintaining theliquid at a given level, a

` steam-escape valve, said vessel having an outlet above said level forconvey-ing steam fromsaidvessel, a by-pass between a portion of the'accumulator containing. regenerated steam and said piping, and a valvein said by-l ass for admitting regenerated steam to sai piping to cheekthe backflow of liquid throughsaid piping. v v

3 In a steam-regenerative accumulator in combination, azvesselcontaining liquid as a heat-carrier, pi ling for directing steam intothe liquid, a uct o r opening ,for substan- V tially maintaining theliquid at a given level,

a steam-escape' valve, said vessel having an outlet above said level forconveyingste'am from saidl vessel, and a vvalve between .said

piping and,A a source of steam-pressure and 4su )ject to pressureofsteam in said pipin and said source to check the backflow of liquithrough said piping.

p n av v"steam regenerative accumulatorv in combiiiationfa,vesselcontainingliquid as aheat-carrier, ipingi'or directing steam into theliquid, a uctor openingfor substantially maintaining the liquid atagiven ievel, 'a steam-'escape valve, said vessel having an outlet abovesaid level for conveying steam from said vessel, anda valvebetween saidpiping and a source of steam-pressure to check the"backflow of liquidthrough ,said piping. I

v5. In a steainregenerative Aaccumulator in combinatiom a vesselcontaining liquid as a heat-carrier, piping Jfor directin0r steam intothe liquid, a duct or opening stantially maintaining the liquid at agiven level, a steam-escape valve, said vessel hav-l ing an outlet abovesaid level Jfor conveying steam from said vessel, and a valve subject toregenerated-steam pressure and 'to pressure of steam within said pipingand. serving to check backilow of said liquid through the piping.

6. In a steam-regenerative accumulator in combination, a vesselcontaining liquid as a heat-carrier, piping for directing steam into theliquid, a duct or opening for substantially maintaining the liquid at aiven level, a steam-escape valve, said vessel aving an outlet above-saidlevel for conveyingsteam from said vessel, vand a valve subject ytoregenerated-steam How of said iquid through the piping.

7. In a steaiii-regenerative accumulator in combination, a vesselcontaining liquid as a heat-carrier, piping for directing steam'into theliquid, va by-pass between a portionvofV the accumulator' containingregenerated steam and said piping, and a valve in said by-pass subjectto regenerated-steam pres' heat-carrier, piping for directing steam intof the liquid, a by-pass between a portion of the accumulatorcontaining`regenerated steam and said piping, and a valve in said ,by-pass' `foradinittingregenerated steam tol said piping to check the backflow ofliquid through. saidl piping. K

9. In a steam-regenerative vaccumulator in combination, a vesselcontaining liquid as a,

heat-carrier, piping vfor directing steam into the liquid, and a valvebetween said piping and .a source of 'steam-pressure and subjecttopressure of steam in said pipingand said ifor sub-A roo IIO

source to. check the backflow of liquid through said piping.

10. "In a steam-regenerative accumulator in combination, ,a vesselcontaining liquid as a heat-carrier, iping for directing steam intotheliquid, an a valve between said piping and a source of steam-pressureto check the bac-know of liquid through said piping.

' 11. In' a steam-regenerative accumulator Vin combination, a vesselcontaining liquid as a heat-carrier, piping for directing steam into,

the liquid, and a valvejsub'jectto regeneratedn semen;

steam pressure and to pressure of steam l In Witness whereof I hereuntosubscribe lo. Within said ipingand serving to check baokmy name this 8thday of February, A. D.

`HOW of seid `iquid through the piping. 1905.

. said liquid through the piping.

12. In'asteam-re eneative uccumulator g in combination7 .a veselcontaining liquid as AUGUSTE' CAMILLE EDMOD RATEAU' a heat-carrier,piping for directing steam into Witnesses: the liquid, and avalvesubjeotto regenerated- P. J. A. CHALEIL, steam pressure'serving to checkbackiow of JOHN BAKER,

i EDWARD W. DIEUL.

